The prince is more stable

Chapter 171 Friendship
Zhao Xiaoqian did not agree with Zhang Xiaoyi's way of handling things. It was right to stand up for his poor brothers, but it was naive to directly conflict with officials.

The people's hearts are like iron, and the laws of the country are like a furnace.

As the saying goes, "The people should not fight against the officials." This sentence is full of the wisdom of our ancestors. Anyone with a little experience should deeply understand its truth, rather than having to suffer a bloody head before suddenly realizing it.

Although he knew the Prince of Chu, he refused to use this relationship and insisted on choosing this stupidest method to confront the officials.

Zhang Xiaoyi still feels very inferior in his heart. His deep-rooted concept of hierarchy has also affected the way he handles things, and he can only solve problems in the way of a grassroots person.

It’s your own business if you don’t agree, but if someone hits Zhang Xiaoyi, that’s another matter.

The doctor was quickly called in. He was said to be a famous doctor in Bianjing City. He was a skinny old man carrying a medicine box and looking sad. He was carried on both sides by the imperial guards and thrown into the house.

Then there was the medical consultation, prescription, and application of medicine, and Zhang Xiaoyi was soon wrapped up like a mummy.

Only then did Zhao Xiaoqian ask about the real business.

"I've found the people who beat you up. They're a few idlers hanging around in Zhouqiao. They've been taken to Bingjingwu. They'll be skinned alive if not dead."

"But do you know the person behind this?"

Zhang Xiaoyi shook his head: "I don't know him."

Zhao Xiaoqian thought about it and agreed. The incident was that Zhang Xiaoyi asked the supervisor for his wages, and the supervisor was unable to suppress it so he reported it. The water envoy then gave the right to handle the matter to his beloved son.

From beginning to end, that precious son never showed his face in front of Zhang Xiaoyi, no wonder he didn't recognize him.

"The overseer should know him, right?"

Zhang Xiaoyi thought for a moment and said, "I remember his last name was Hu, his given name was Wei, and he was in his thirties."

"Hu Wei? Guard? Tsk, his parents didn't take him seriously when they gave him birth. What kind of name did they give him? He's not born to be rich." Zhao Xiaoqian said with disdain.

Zhang Xiaoyi asked cautiously, "Is it possible that he was born at the hour of Wei, and therefore named 'Hu Wei'?"

"You are so smart!" Zhao Xiaoqian praised without thinking, and then slapped his bruised thigh hard.

Zhang Xiaoyi's whole body was shaking as if he had been electrocuted, and he was throbbing with pain.

"It's right to help your poor brothers get their wages, and I admire your generosity, but there are many ways to demonstrate generosity. It doesn't necessarily require sacrificial sacrifice to solve the problem."

Zhao Xiaoqian pointed at his nose and asked, "Who am I?"

Zhang Xiaoyi was stunned: "You are the prince of Chu and the Marquis of Anle County."

"No, my name is Zhao Xiaoqian. Be good, try calling me by my name..."

Zhang Xiaoyi said with difficulty: "Zhao...Xiaoqian?"

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled: "Yes, I am Zhao Xiaoqian, and you are Zhang Xiaoyi. We are friends who have experienced hardships together, and you even saved my life."

Zhang Xiaoyi murmured absentmindedly: "Friends..."

"Let me ask you again, what is 'friend' used for?"

"What...what are you doing?" Zhang Xiaoyi was a little confused.

"Friend, of course it's for helping in fights." Zhao Xiaoqian laughed a few times and pinched Zhang Xiaoyi's bruised face: "Whoever dares to hit your face will hit my butt, and I will avenge him!"

After saying this, Zhao Xiaoqian clapped his hands and stood up: "Alright, let's start with this Hu Wei. Today I want to see what kind of moral character the river officials of our Song Dynasty are."

Turning around and seeing Zhang Xiaoyi wrapped up like a dumpling, Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but say, "Next time you encounter trouble, run away first. It doesn't matter how ugly your escape posture is. Don't pretend to be a hero. As long as you are alive, you can avenge any humiliation and hatred."

"If you're dead, even if I offer you the head of your enemy, it's meaningless."

Zhang Xiaoyi said sullenly, "I wasn't being a hero. I was in trouble last night, but it was too late to run away."

"……excellent!"

Watching Zhao Xiaoqian's elegant figure walk out the door, Zhang Xiaoyi's eyes became red again.

In the past, Zhao Xiaoqian was his benefactor, the crown prince, and the marquis of a county. In short, he was a high-ranking figure.

Although Zhao Xiaoqian acted very easygoing and never treated him as a subordinate, Zhang Xiaoyi never dared to treat him as a friend, feeling that he was unworthy. However, today, when something happened to him and there was no news, Zhao Xiaoqian still went through great pains to find him and now went out to help him get revenge.

The word "friend" became more and more concrete in Zhang Xiaoyi's mind.

Zhang Xiaoyi has many friends, but because he comes from a wealthy family and does not put on airs, it seems that the only friend who can truly treat him as an equal is Zhao Xiaoqian.

What kind of royal family can raise such outstanding children?
The wounds on my body still hurt a little, but it seemed not as painful anymore.

Zhang Xiaoyi lay on the bed, looking up at the beams above his head, seeming to be crying and laughing at the same time.

The storytellers in the brothels often said something like "A gentleman will die for his friend."

"I can't help but give you this life..." Zhang Xiaoyi chuckled foolishly.

…………

As the name suggests, a river official is an official who is specifically responsible for managing rivers.

This type of official was affiliated with the Ministry of Works, but was basically independent of the central government and did not participate in state affairs. He only asked for money, conscripted soldiers, built dikes, and embezzled money.

River disasters have been a major problem throughout the dynasties, and they are rarely completely solved. The only solution is to repair the broken dikes wherever they occur, and this has been the case for thousands of years.

The person in charge of the rivers in the Song Dynasty was the Du Shui Jian.

The Du Shui Jian existed as early as the Tang Dynasty. It was an official office specifically responsible for river management and was under the Ministry of Works. However, most of the candidates for the Du Shui Jian were actually deputy transport envoys from various places who also served as such.

Zhao Xiaoqian went out, and his expression and mental state remained stable.

Since you have decided to make an enemy, there is no need to go into any grandiose lines like swearing an oath first and then issuing a petition. Just do it.

The villain dies because he talks too much. Often the one who talks the most before doing something serious either dies suddenly or fails, while the one who says nothing accomplishes great things.

"Come here, go to the Imperial City Office and call for help." Zhao Xiaoqian ordered.

Then Zhao Xiaoqian waited in the carriage on the side of the road.

Half an hour later, Wei Jie arrived hurriedly with a dozen scouts from the Imperial City Bureau.

Zhao Xiaoqian didn't waste any words, simply saying, "According to investigations, officials responsible for the dike and river management work in the Kaifeng section of the Yellow River are still embezzling and withholding wages. This case is under the jurisdiction of the Imperial City Administration."

The words are powerful and cannot be questioned.

Wei Jie and the others hurriedly clasped their fists and bowed: "Understood!"

"Okay, follow me to the construction site on the bank of the Yellow River to pick up the person."

Nearly twenty miles out of the city is the Yellow River dike construction site.

The construction site was in full swing. Looking around, tens of thousands of laborers were carrying soil and tamping the foundation.

Many supervisors in black clothes waved whips and scolded the laborers loudly with stern expressions. Occasionally, they would whip them hard to show their authority. The laborers did not dare to get angry or speak.

Zhao Xiaoqian and his group were dressed in luxurious clothes, which was out of tune with the surrounding environment. As soon as they walked to the construction site on the shore, they attracted countless people's attention.

A patrolling imperial guard commander hesitated for a moment, then slowly approached and saluted.

"What can I do for you?"

Zhao Xiaoqian took out his badge and showed it to the commander.

The commander was startled when he saw the words "Imperial City Administration" engraved on the badge. He subconsciously took two steps back and saluted again.

Zhao Xiaoqian took back his badge and said calmly, "I'm here to look for someone. Is that okay?"

The commander shook his head hurriedly: "It's okay, please do as you please."

"Then I'll trouble you to find one for me. Go find the overseer named Hu Mo. I have an heirloom I'd like to show him."

The words were polite, but the commander sensed a chill in Zhao Xiaoqian's words and was startled. He quickly turned around and went to look for someone.

(End of this chapter)